Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Highlights from Christmas



It has been a long time since I did a slide show, and I thought that would be the best way to show you how my Christmas was. Some of the best highlights were...
  • My sister coming from Fargo!
  • Playing Rockband for the first time ever
  • Playing with the Ugly Tie tree skirt with my family (It is a family tradition that each year someone gets this tree skirt made from the ugly ties that the men in my family have owned over the years)
  • Spending time with all of my family... especially seeing uncle Dave
  • A visit from Charles Call... which is always a pleasure
  • Carol and Scott bringing Logan over, my favorite little three year old
  • Eating hand fulls of spritz cookies (the best Christmas cookie by far)
It was just a great Christmas all around. I will post about my 2009 plans before the year is through.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Step away from the computer!!!!

I have been sitting at my computer for a good 2 hours now playing with my blog. I looked down at the time and was a little disappointed at myself...It is nearing 2:00 and I am still in my PJ's. There is something about not having a job that makes a person feel like a bum. So I am writing this post to motivate myself to get my butt in gear.

It is almost 40 degrees outside, which for this time in Minnesota is like a tropical heat wave. I am going to go for a run outside to live it up. Which reminds me that I want to tell you about all my great plans for 2009... but I think that would keep me at my computer for another hour. So I hope that leaves you all in great anticipation for my next post.

Hope you all had a great Christmas!!!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Universe Smiles Today!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHMAS TO ME!!!!! I had to take a second to post on this most joyous occasion. Thanks to everyone for the phone calls and text messages. I have been answering the phone today "Sing to me!" David sent me my horoscope today (from two different sources) and I just have to share it with you. Looks like things are looking up for me... starting today on this, my merry merry Birthmas.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (DECEMBER 23). You've a buoyant spirit. The excitement you generate will raise the tone of the planet. You'll excel in physical or sporting activities this year and will be attractive to those who cheer you on. Your sophistication level takes a leap in January and you realize the fine details that will make you happy. Scorpio and Virgo are especially supportive. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 29, 19, 3 and 27.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your heart is especially bountiful now. The degree to which it will affect the lives of many, even just in this 24-hour period, is incalculable. Your endeavors contribute to the saving of the world.

Looks like today I have some wonderful surprises in store for me... I can't wait, I am especially looking forward to the saving the world part. Wish me luck.

Love Tacy Marie

Monday, December 22, 2008

Silet Night

Literally... I came home from a day of running all over town to a very empty apartment. I was going to pop in a Christmas movie, but then I realized that I just enjoyed the quiet and sitting in the living room admiring the Christmas tree. I enjoy taking time to think about things... or ponder, if you will, the things of life. On my mission an Elder once called me "Ponderosa" because I always seemed to be very deep in thought. There has been a lot on my mind these past few weeks, however my thoughts have been very much consumed with Christmas.

Last week in Church I sang "What Child is This," as a solo. I wanted to sing it because of an experience I had while in the Missionary Training Center. My companion, Sister Hooper, was previously going to school for vocal performance. She wanted to sing a solo in front of the entire MTC, which was something she needed to audition for, she decided to sing "What Child is This," and practiced it anytime she could while we were together (Which to those who are unfamiliar with missionary companions was all the time... because we never left each others sides). So I was lucky enough to have a pre-opera star serenade me with this song each day, and I fell in love with it. At the audition Sister Hooper, I and the MTC president's wife sat in a small conference room together... I can't really describe to you how sacred that moment was to me, but I felt something truly incredible... it was like this sweet peaceful, beautiful feeling in my heart. The amazing thing about it was that I was not the only one who felt it. I can remember the MTC president's wife looking at me and both of us had tears in our eyes. When Sister Hooper finished we all just sat quiet for a moment to give reverence to what had just taken place.

Now I know I sounded nothing like Sister Hooper in church on Sunday... however I wanted to sing that song because I wanted somehow to share that feeling with the people at church. I wanted them to know what Christmas means to me by helping them feel that same kind of indescribable feeling. I do not recall as I stood in front anyone being moved to tears... however afterward several people came up to me and ALL of them used the same word to describe it, "Tender."

So I guess that is what I have been thinking about this Christmas, a "holy infant, so tender and mild." I love Christmas because I love Jesus Christ, and I am amazed that as powerful, and all knowing as he is...The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, began his life as a small tender little baby. That is absolutely incredible to me. It brings profound meaning to the scripture, "By small and simple things, great things are brought to pass."

I hope you know that those wonderful magic feelings that you can't always describe that seem to be so abundant at Christmas are feelings of the Spirit of Christ. They are feelings of Peace, Hope, Joy and Love. We feel them often when enjoying time with family, listening to Christmas songs, sitting quietly by a Christmas Tree... and giving gifts to those around us. I hope you can all enjoy those feelings this season, Merry Christmas!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Brian Regan - Loitering and Manslaughter - Epitome of Hyperbole BEST QUALITY

Last week I went to see Brian Regan at the Orpheum in Minneapolis. I laughed almost non-stop... I think it was the best ab workout I have ever had. For some reason I can not seem to get his little bit that he did out of my head. Sorry the sound quality is not the best... but neverthe-less it is still funny.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

An Angelic Visit

"... God knew the challenges we would face, and He certainly knew how lonely and troubled we would sometimes feel. So He watches over His mortal family constantly, hears their prayers always, and sends prophets (and apostles) to teach, counsel, and guide us. But in times of special need, He sends angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, reassure them that heaven is always very close and that His help is always very near."

-- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Of the Quorum of the twelve apostles), "The Ministry of Angels"

Yesterday was not the greatest... to say the least. I got absolutely no studying done, well there was one point when I actually physically got my books and laid them next to me hoping that perhaps by osmosis or some other unknown force the information might just seep into my brain. However I know nothing more about the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology or DNA replication, transcription and translation.

** Side note... if there are any genetics majors who frequent my blog, please post your name and number in the comments section and I will be calling you shortly.

So like any smart girl would do when she is feeling in the pit of despair I did two things. Number one I prayed, because when you seek comfort, strength, knowledge (or pretty much anything else that is good for that matter) it's best to go to the source. And the second thing I did was call my mother... but she was not there (Tragic!!!) I called a few more times with no response.

Finally at about 4:00 my phone began to ring, and her name appeared on the caller ID. However it was not my mom, it was my dad. I share with you now our conversation so you can understand that Dad's are not Mom's.

Dad: Tacy, are you looking for Mom? She left her phone at home, and I saw that you were trying to call her.
Tacy: Yea, Dad... I'm sick (cough... cough)
Dad: Oh... Well what are you going to do about it?
Tacy: Well, Dad I have a final tomorrow and I can't study... I just feel like junk.
Dad: Take some Ibuprofen and get to it.
Tacy: (pause) Ya, I suppose that is what I need to do (In a sad "please feel sorry for me" voice).
Dad: Do you need mothering? I will have your mom call you as soon as she gets home.
Tacy: Thanks Dad.
Dad: Talk to you later.

It was around 8:30 or so when I got a call to come down to the door of my apartment to let my mom in. She came walking around the bend in the sidewalk in a red sweater... wearing a Santa hat and carrying three large grocery bags full of stuff!!!! She brought me, a heating pad, Clementine oranges (because they are so easy to peel and delicious), chocolate (which doesn't cure colds but is good for lots of things that ail you), goldfish crackers, cheese sticks, a pot pie, mashed potatoes, ginger ale, and honey and lemon. Then I got a back rub, and someone to lay on the couch with me and listen to me.

If anyone doesn't believe in angels... you should meet my mom:)
I love you mommy.
Tacy Marie

Monday, December 15, 2008

Sometimes when you win, you lose.

I have been trying to figure out a way to tell you about the changes that have happened in my life in a short weeks time. I am sick, I have the hardest final of the year tomorow night and haven't started studying for it yet (I already took two with little to no preperation)... I seem to have found myself at Christmas time mourning the loss of a once sweet and beautiful relationship. ( please know that I am not looking for your sympathies but rather you all should know by now that writing is my therapy). I couldn't sleep, and when my mind races I revert to the three R's (running, reading and writing... which we can all see actaully starts with a W but it sounds like it starts with an R and it is a little complicated to say "When my mind races I revert to the two R's and a W). Sick as I am, running was out of the question.

Life is full of surprises, I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised this break-up was foreshaddowed to me months ago... but I found myself ignoring signs I did not want to beleive. Sometimes we see what we want to see... but that does not make it true.

Do you all remember Mary Catherine Gallagher from Saturday night live? She was palyed by Molly Shannon. I kind of always felt that character was taken from my own life. I often feel quite awkward and clumsy and I always find myself nervously sweating... and like her I often think my feelings can be best summed up through the words of movies, plays and books.


I feel like my feelings in my current situation can best be expressed by the words of Antoine de Saint Exupery, in "The Little Prince" which is a story of a prince who lived on his own tiny planet, and one day he discovered a very unusual flower growing which he had never before seen. Upon first seeing her he exclaimed...

"Oh! How beautiful you are!"

"Am I not?"the flower responded, sweetly. "and I was born at the same moment as the sun..."

The little prince could guess easily enough that she was not any too modest - but how moving - and exciting - she was!

"I think it is time for breakfast," she added an instant later. "If you would have the kindness to think of my needs-"

And the little prince, completely abashed, went to look for a sprinkling-can of fresh water. So, he tended the flower.

One day...when she was speaking of her four thorns she said to the little prince:

"Let the tigers come with their claws!"

"There are no tigers on my planet," the little prince objected. "And anyways, tigers do not eat weeds."

"I am not a weed," the flower replied sweetly.

"Please excuse me..."

"I am not at all afraid of tigers ," she went on, "but I have a horror of drafts. I suppose you wouldn't have a screen for me?"

"A horror of drafts -that is bad luck, for a plant, " remarked the little prince, and added to himself, "This flower is a very complex creature..."

"At night I want you to put me under a glass globe. It is very cold where you live. In the place I came from - "

But she interupted herself at this point. She had come in the form of a seed. She could not have known anything of any other worlds. Embarrassed over having let herslef be caught on the verge of a such a naive untruth, she coughed two or three times, in order to put the little prince in the wrong.

So the little prince , in spite of all the good will that was inseparable from his love, had soon come to doubt her. He had taken seriously words which were without importance, and it made him very unhappy.

"I ought not to have listened to her, one never ought to listen to the flowers. One should simply look at them and breathe their frangrence. My little flower perfumed all the planet. But I did not know how to take pleasure in all her grace. This tale of claws, which distturbed me so much, should only have filled my heart with tenderness and pity."

And he continued his confidences:

"The fact is that I did not know how to understand anything! I ought to have judged by deeds and not by words. She cast her fragrance and her radiance over me. I ought never to have run away from her... I ought to have guessed all the affection that lay behind her poor little stratagems. Flower are so inconsistent! But I was too young to know how to love her...."

So he decided to leave his planet, and when he watered the flower for the last time, and perpared to place her under the shelter of her glass globe, he realized that he was very close to tears.

"Goodbye," he said to the flower.

But she made no answer.

"Goodbye," he said again.

The flower coughed. But it was not because she had a cold.

"I have been silly," she said to him, at last. "I ask your forgiveness. Try to be happy..."

He was surprised by this absence of reproaches. He stood there all bewildered, the glass globe held arrested in mid-air. He did not understand this quiet sweetness.

"Of course I love you," the flower said to him.

"It is my fault that you have not known it all the while. This is of no importance. But you-you have been just as foolish as I. Try to be happy... let the glass globe be. I don't want it anymore."

"But the wind-"

"My cold is not so bad as all that... The cool night air will do me good. I am a flower."

"But the animals-"

"Well, I must endure the presnce of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquinted with the butterflies. It seems that they are very beautiful. And if not the butterflies- and the caterpillars- who will call upon me? You will be far away... As for the large animals-I am not at all afraid of any of them. I have my claws."

And naively, she showed her four thorns.

Then she added: "Don't linger like this. You have decided to go away. Now GO!"

For she did not want him to see her crying. She was such a proud flower...

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Birthmas

Just reminding anyone who may have forgotten that December marks my 26th Birthmas. namely on December 23rd I will be turning 26 years old. I just wanted to give everyone adequate notice so that you would have time to plan the party, buy all the goodies and presents and stuff and start practicing for the musical number that you all are going to perform for me (I was thinking perhaps a choreographed street dance number of "We wish you a Merry Birthmas." )

People always ask me if it bothers me that my birthday is so close to Christmas... well, no I was pretty happy that I was born and the timing wasn't all that important to me. I mean June, April, December it's all the same I'm just happy to be alive. I actually quite enjoy my birthday being so close to my favorite holiday...

Can you believe that I am going to be 26!!!!!!!!!!!!! NUTZO is all I can say absolutely NUTZO.

Ps... Sarah Ware I hope that you are not avoiding writing some all important paper right now to be reading my Blog... FOCUS SARAH! FOCUS! The semester is almost over and you will be gliding off to Utah in no time soon!